Method and apparatus for making twelve-page booklets or signatures

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for use with a web printing press and associated conventional folding devices for the continuous production from a single web of 12 page pasted booklets or signatures instead of or in addition to the eight page, or multiples thereof, booklets or signatures, pasted or not, which are customarily produced on web press and folder combinations. The apparatus constitutes a device for applying a thin continuous line of adhesive to both opposing surfaces of the printed web with said lines of adhesive extending lengthwise of and lying very close to a free edge of the web as it progresses from the press rolls to the first unit of the folding apparatus. The edge with applied adhesive is then folded into the interior of the 12 page assembly so as to bind all pages of the same firmly together.

United States Patent Levine et a].

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TWELVE-PAGE BOOKLETS OR SIGNATURES Inventors: Sidney V. Levine, l Skibo Lane, Mamaroneck, NY. 10345; Christopher Hastalis, I338 Leonard Way, North Valley Stream, NY. 11580 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney-James D. Bock [57] ABSTRACT Method and apparatus for use with a web printing press and associated conventional folding devices for the continuous production from a single web of 12 page pasted booklets or signatures instead of or in addition to the eight page, or multiples thereof, booklets or signatures, pasted or not, which are customarily produced on web press and folder combinations. The apparatus constitutes a device for applying a thin continuous line of adhesive to both opposing surfaces of the printed web with said lines of adhesive extending lengthwise of and lying very close to a free edge of the web as it progresses from the press rolls to the first unit of the folding apparatus. The edge with applied adhesive is then folded into the interior of the 12 page assembly so as to bind all pages of the same firmly together.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDucr 10 m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG.2.

F'IGI.

PATENTED 10 I973 3.697.061

sum 2 or 2 FIG.6.

FIGB.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TWELVE-PAGE BOOKLETS OR SIGNATURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,865 is illustrative of widely used adhesive applying means for use in the manufacture of pasted booklets or signatures. The apparatus there disclosed, as well as the various commercial constructions similar thereto, operates well in the production of eight page, or multiples thereof, booklets because the lines of adhesive are applied to the web along lines which are parallel with but remote, by at least one page width, from either free edge of the web. Along such lines the surfaces of the web move very steadily and can be relied upon not to flutter or otherwise move out of a substantially fixed plane. This is essential inasmuch as the adhesive is forced out of very small orifices at the ends of hollow tubes or needles which must be accurately positioned so as to make contact with the web surface whereby a very thin continuous and uniform line of adhesive will be laid upon the rapidly moving web.

The devices just described cannot successfully be used to apply such accurately controlled lines of adhesive along the extreme edge portions of a web because such edges are free in the draw between the former plate and the pre-fold rolls of the conventional folding apparatus. Such free edges of the web inescapably will flutter to such an extent that an edge will strike against the needle at times and will move too far away at other times thereby endangering the web and in any event inhibiting the application of a uniform line of adhesive.

Rollers, brushes or immersion and squeezing troughs (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,936) while operative in slow speed production or in manufacture of cartons and the like from heavy paperboard have been found by applicants herein to be impractical for the application of the precise quantities of adhesive required to the extremely rapidly moving edges of a printed paper web emerging from a modern web press and destined for use in multiple'page books, booklets, pamphlets and the like.

The ability to apply the requisitely precise lines of adhesive to the free edges of a paper web is highly desirable inasmuch as the limitations upon positioning of adhesive lines by devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,865 restricts users of web press-folder combinations, when it is desired to produce multiple page booklets or signatures, to units of eight pages or multiples of eight pages. If a 12 page booklet is desired the web press-folder combination may be used to produce eight pages but the remaining four pages must be produced on a sheetfed press and the two groups must then be assembled by stapling, stitching or other wellltnown binding procedures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention, by providing simple and reliable apparatus for applying precisely controlled lines of adhesive to both surfaces of the free edge of a web, makes it possible to produce 12 page pasted booklets or signatures on a web press-folder combination. Such 12 page units may be used as such or they may be assembled, as signatures, with other signatures, for example, the conventional eight page, 16 page, etc., signatures heretofore available.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a device adjustably attached to an appropriate part of the folder frame and which includes two closely spaced parts between which the edge of the web is conducted so that one surface adjacent the edge bears upon one of the parts and then the other surface bears upon the other part. The edge thus follows an angularly disposed or slightly kinked path as it progresses between such parts. Each part is provided with an orifice so disposed with respect to the path of the web as to project an ac curately controlled stream of adhesive upon the adjacent surface of the web, thereby applying the required lines of adhesive to both surfaces thereof. The parts containing the orifices are so adjusted relative to the path of the web edge as to engage and confine the engaged portion of the edge to an accurate and uniform path free of flutter as it passes through the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one surface of a sheet of paper, forming a part of a continuous web, so printed on a web press as to provide a repeating pattern of 12 pages, such pages being indicated on the drawing as separated by potential fold lines;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the opposite surface of said sheet;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing the sheet of FIG. I after a first fold has been formed, said sheet still forming a part of said continuous web;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the sheet of FIG. 1 after a second fold has been formed and after said sheet has been cut from said web;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing the sheet of FIG. I after a third and final fold has been formed;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of parts of a web press and folder combination showing the position of a device for applying adhesive to an edge of a printed web;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of adhesive applying device; and

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 11-! l in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the opposite surfaces of a sheet of paper which constitutes a portion of a continuous web which has been printed in a web press in such a manner as to provide 12 pages for a 12 page signature or booklet. The twelve pages are consecutively numbered 1 through 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as in FIGS. 3 through 5. To form each such sheet or portion 100 into a pasted 12 page booklet in accordance with the present invention a thin continuous line of adhesive 102 is laid upon the surface of sheet 100 shown in FIG. 1 and a thin continuous line of adhesive 104 is laid upon the surface of sheet 100 shown in FIG. 2. The lines of adhesive 102 and 104 extend along the opposite surfaces of the same edge 106 of sheet 100. As will be explained below the edge 106 is a free edge of the web which emerges from the web press and the lines of adhesive 102 and 104 are laid on such free edge by guiding the edge through an adhesive applying device having parts which straddle the edge and engage and guide the opposite surfaces of the marginal portions of the edge past small openings or orifices through which adhesive material is continuously discharged at a controlled rate of flow such as to supply just enough adhesive to form a proper bond between the various surfaces of the paper which come into contact with the adhesive during the folding operations.

The first fold is formed along fold line I as by folding pages and 4 backwardly out of the plane of FIG. 1 into the position shown in FIG. 3. This operation brings the line of adhesive 104 into engagement with the rear surface of sheet 100, as viewed in FIG. 3, with the edge I06 lying in registry with fold line Ill.

The second fold is formed along fold line II as by folding pages 1 and 12 backwardly and then upwardly out of the plane of FIG. 3 and thus into the position shown in FIG. 4. In the FIG. 4 position the line of adhesive 102 is brought into engagement with itself along what will become the inner or bound edges of pages 4 and 5. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4 pages 1 through 8 are now adhesively secured in final position in proper consecutive order.

The third and final fold is next formed along fold line III as by folding pages 9 and I1 forwardly out of the plane of FIG. 4 into the position shown (reversed) in FIG. 5. From a consideration of FIG. 5 and bearing in mind that all of the folds above described will be sharply creased rather than loosely curved as shown in the drawings, it will be apparent that pages 1 and 12 which are continuations of the same surface portion of sheet 100 will now lie on the outside of the folded assembly I08 and that the fold line III will envelop all of the inner edge portions of the sheet. Thus, in the completed creased 12 page signature or booklet 108 the inner edges of the surfaces of pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be secured together by the associated portions of the lines of adhesive 102 and 104. The inner edges of the surfaces of pages 8, 9, 10 and II will not be secured together by adhesive but nevertheless will be firmly bound since each of the latter pages forms a continuation of a page which is secured by adhesive extending up to the common fold line between such pages.

The pasted assembly 108 may next be trimmed along three sides excluding the side defined by fold line Ill thus to free and even up the edges of all 12 pages thereof which then will remain bound together only along the uncut pasted edges as will be apparent. This final trimming operation may be performed in a conventional three-knife cutter, not shown herein, to provide separate l2 page pasted booklets complete in themselves as shown herein. Alternatively the untrimmed pasted assembly 108 may be associated as a signature with other signatures of l2 pages or with other signatures having any desired numbers of pages or assortments of numbers as may be desired in the manufacture of books made up of several signatures. The 12 page pasted signature may be hung over the guide rail of a signature gathering machine with the rail inserted between pages 8 and 9 for assembly with other signatures by stapling or stitching as may be desired.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that the ability to produce 12 page pasted booklets or signatures on a web press with conventional integral folding equipment very greatly extends the capacity of a printing plant to realize the economies and the production speed of web presses which heretofore have been limited to production of eight page signatures or multiples thereof whether pasted or not. This advantage flows directly from the provision by the present invention of means for applying continuous precisely controlled lines of adhesive to the opposite surface regions of a free edge of the printed web as it progresses from the web press to the first unit of the folding apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown a web of paper having recurring 12 page patterns of matter printed thereon by a web press. The web 1 10 is emerging from the press over an off-bearing roller 1 12 which is the only part of the web press illustrated in FIG. 6. From roller 112 the web 110 proceeds downwardly over a former plate 114 which tapers to a point at the entry into the nip between a pair of pre-fold rolls 116, 118 in which the forming of the fold along fold line 1 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is initiated. It will be observed in FIG. 6 that the edge 106 (FIG. I) of web 110 does not extend to the full width of former plate 1 14 whereas the opposite edge 120 of web 110 does extend substantially to the full width of the former plate. This particular relationship has been chosen for illustration since, as will be apparent, if the web 110 were of full width it would have the first fold formed along the longitudinal centerline thereof, thus to form a conventional eight page or sixteen page signature wherein both the front and back halves of the web would extend the full width of the prefold rolls 116 and 118. In contrast with this, for the purposes of the present invention, the web 110 is only 75 percent of the width which would be used for a 16 page signature (same page size of course) whereby the first fold is formed along fold line I (FIG. 1) located one-third of the web width from the web edge 106. Therefore, as clearly shown in FIG. 6 the edge 106 will be folded against the remainder of the web to lie at the centerline between fold line I and opposite web edge 120. The position thus assumed in the first folding operation is therefore the same as that illustrated in FIG. 3.

From the pre-fold rolls 116, 118 the web progresses through subsequent conventional folding and cutting apparatus generally indicated at 122 wherein the second fold is formed by a folding drum, the signature or booklet is cut by a cutting cylinder and the separated signature or booklet is folded, as by a chopper, to form the third fold along fold line III. The cut and folded signatures or booklets are thereafter stacked or are fed onto a conveyor for further processing such as trimming or for gathering with other signatures as desired. None of the apparatus just mentioned, beyond the pre-fold rolls 116, 118, is illustrated herein inasmuch as it is all well known and exists in many commercially available forms.

In said US. Pat. No. 2,747,865 there is shown, in a combined web press and folding machine similar to that so far described, adhesive applying means suitable for the manufacture of pasted booklets or signatures of eight pages or multiples of eight pages. As shown therein liquid adhesive material is supplied under pressure to hollow needles each of which delivers a thin line of adhesive to substantially the longitudinal centerline of each half of the web as it moves toward the nip of the pre-fold rolls. The pressurized supply tank, delivery tubing, controls, filters and the like as shown in said patent are typical of the sort of apparatus which may be used for the purposes of the present invention to deliver liquid adhesive to the adhesive applying device now to be described. Since such apparatus is wellknown in the art it has not been illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ln FIG. 6 the adhesive applying device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 124 and it is attached to a tube 126 through which a liquid adhesive material is supplied under pressure as discussed above. The device 124 is secured to a bracket 128 which in turn is adjustably supported by any suitable means (not shown) upon the frame of the folder 122. As will be apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7 the device 124, in effect, is so shaped as to define a laterally disposed slot having surfaces which straddle the edge 106 and adjacent marginal areas of web 110 as the latter moves downwardly and angularly toward the nip of the pre-fold rolls 116, l 18.

In the form of the adhesive applying device 124 shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 the slot just referred to is defined by curved web guide surfaces 130 and 132 formed respectively on an upper body portion 134 and a lower portion 136. The inner end of the slot" is defined by vertical wall portions, not numbered, of the bodies 134 and 136. As shown particularly in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the device 124 is adjusted into proper posi tion with respect to web 110 successive increments of the edge 106 of the web will run very close to the inner end of the "slot" and successive increments of the adjacent marginal portion of the web will run first over the curved guide surface 130 and will be deflected slightly so as to run over the curved guide surface 132. This deflection or kinking of this part of the edge portion of the moving web will place it under a small amount of tension as it moves from surface 130 to surface 132 and thus effectively will confine this part of the edge portion to an accurately predetermined path. The lines of adhesive are applied to this part of the edge portion in order to assure the application of the required thin uniform lines of adhesive discussed above.

Referring to FlGS. 7, 8 and 9 an orifice 138 is formed in the curved surface of the upper body portion 134. lllustratively, the orifice 138 may consist of the open end of a drilled passageway 140 extending horizontally through the upper body portion 134 and opening into a horizontally drilled passageway 142 extending laterally of passageway 140 and opening at its inner end into a vertically drilled passageway 144 (see FIG. 9) which opens into the lower surface of the upper body portion 134.

In these same FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, an orifice 146 is formed in the curved surface 132 of the lower body portion 136. lllustratively, the orifice 146 may consist of the open end of a drilled passageway 148 extending horizontally through the lateral extension 150 of the lower body portion 136 and opening into a horizontally drilled passageway 152 extending through the lower body portion 136. The passageway 152 communicates with a horizontally drilled passageway 154 which extends lengthwise through the lower body portion 136 and opens into the adhesive supply tube 126. The passageway 154 also communicates through a vertically drilled passageway 156 (see FIG. 9) with a circular well 158 sunk into the upper surface of the lower body portion 136 in such position as to communicate with the passageway 144 in the upper body portion 134 when the two body portions are assembled as shown in these drawings. An O-ring 160 is fitted into well 158 to form a liquid-tight seal between the body portions when thus assembled.

The upper and lower body portions 134 and 136 are held in assembled position by suitable removable fastening means such as screws 162 and 164 which extend through elongated slots 163 and 165 respectively, in the upper body portion 134 and are threaded into the lower body portion 136. The slots 163 and 165 perrnit horizontal adjustment of the upper body 134 relative to the lower body 136 to the right and left as viewed in FIG. 8. By such adjustment the curved surface 130 may be moved relative to curved surface 132 from a relatively open position as shown in H6. 8 to closer or overlapping positions thus to control the effective width of the slot" while maintaining the cylindrical axes of surfaces 130 and 132 parallel. By such adjustment the desired amount of kink placed in the web edge 106 may be accurately predetermined.

For occasional clean out purposes the passageways 142, 148 and 152 are extended to an exterior surface and closed by screws 166, 168 and 170 respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 8 it will be understood that the liquid adhesive supplied under pressure through tube 126 will be delivered through the various passageways just described to the orifices 138 and 146. The orifices are quite small in diameter the specific dimensions thereof being related to customary web speeds of the web pressfolder combination with which the device 124 is to be used, as well as to viscosity of the selected liquid adhesive, the range of pressures at which it may be supplied and practical considerations such as case of cleaning and cost of manufacture of the device.

The positioning of the orifices 138 and 146 in the curved surfaces 130 and 132 need not be precisely that illustrated in FIG. 8, for example, but the positions there shown, that is on the horizontally extending radii of the substantially cylindrical curved surfaces 130 and 132, is quite satisfactory since the specific relationship between the orifices and the part of the web passing through the device 124 can be finely adjusted by the adjustment described above and/or by tilting the device 124 about a horizontal axis normal to the plane of FIG. 8. Thus the orifices 138 and 146 may be so positioned that each may lay a line or bead of adhesive of the desired uniformity and so that the beads thus laid may be substantially identical. Such spreading of the bead of adhesive, applied by the orifice 146, as may occur as a result of passage of the edge portion of the web 110 over the lower part of the curved surface 132 is of no consequence inasmuch as some spreading due to selfleveling will ordinarily occur and in any event the adhesive will be spread by pressures exerted in the folding operation. A typical final appearance and disposition of the adhesive lines has been diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5.

A modified form of adhesive applying device is generally indicated by the reference numeral 224 in FIGS. 10 and 11. This device is supplied with a suitable liquid adhesive under pressure through a tube 226 and it is provided with a mounting bracket 228 for adjustable attachment to the frame of the folder with which it is to be used. The device 224 may have a one-piece body 230 and thus is somewhat simpler in construction than the device 124 shown in FIGS. 7 through 9. A web edge guiding slot 232 is cut laterally into the body 230 and is inclined from the vertical at such an angle that when it is associated with a printed paper web 210, as shown in FIG. 11, a surface of the web will slide over an upper edge 234 of slot 232 and the opposite surface will slide over a lower edge 236 of slot 234 thus to deflect or kink the path of the web sufficiently to hold this free edge portion of the web in a definite flutterfree path.

As successive increments of the free edge portion of the web 210 pass from edge 234 to edge 236 the liquid adhesive material is applied to both surfaces of the web for the same purpose as disclosed in connection with FIGS. 7 through 9.

As shown in FIG. 10 a horizontally drilled passageway 238 extends from a position communicating with adhesive supply tube 226 directly to the wall of slot 232 which extends downwardly from edge 234. The opening of passageway 238 into said wall constitutes an orifice 240 from which adhesive is discharged onto the adjacent web surface. A horizontally drilled passageway 242 communicates, at an intermediate point with passageway 238 and opens into the exterior surface of body 230 where it is closed by a clean-out screw 244. A horizontally drilled passageway 246 communicates. at one end with passageway 242 and opens, at the other end in a surface of body 230 where it is closed as by a clean-out screw 248. A horizontally drilled passageway 250 extends laterally of and communicates with the passageway 246 and the open end of passageway 250 is closed, as by a clean-out screw 252. A horizontally drilled passageway 254 extends from an outer surface of body 230, where it is closed as by a clean-out screw 256, communicates with passageway 250 and opens into the wall of slot 232 which lies above the edge 236. The latter opening constitutes an orifice 258.

The modified form of the adhesive applying device just described operates in the same manner as the form previously described to discharge a precisely controlled amount of liquid adhesive material from orifices 240 and 258 upon the opposite surfaces of the web edge as the latter passes through the device.

ln the use of either of the adhesive applying devices 124 or 224 careful adjustment of the tilt of the device about an axis extending normally to the planes of FIGS. 8 and 11 will be made so that the web edge will run smoothly and will receive substantially equal, thin, uniform lines of adhesive on both surfaces thereof. While the slot 232 in device 224 is shown inclined in FIG. 11 it will be understood that it may just as well be vertical in which event the body 230 of the device will be tilted counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 11 to bring the slot into an appropriate inclined position with respect to the path of web 210. In any event the edges 234 and 236 of the device 224 may be slightly rounded off, if so desired, to provide a smooth bearing surface for the edge portion of web 210.

Referring back to the device 124 and its relation with the web 110 as shown in FIG. 8 it will be understood that the inner orifice 138 is formed in the upper body portion 134 and the outer orifice 146 is formed in the lower body portion 136 in order that the device 124 may be in a generally horizontal position to cooperate as described above with the edge 106 of a web 110 which is moving downwardly toward the right as viewed in said FIG. 8. However if it is desirable or practical to position a device like 124 in a generally vertical position (turned counterclockwise) instead of the horizontal position shown in FIG. 8 the device should be so constructed that the inner orifice 138 is formed in the lower body portion 136 and the outer orifice 146 is formed in the upper body portion 134. In instances where it is more convenient to position the device 124 generally horizontally but with the inlet tube 126 thereof going off to the right of web as viewed in FIG. 8 the device may be inverted by turning it through 360 in the plane of FIG. 8 without any alteration of the device as shown. It will be apparent that the latter procedure appears to be impossible from a consideration of FIG. 7. However, in this FIG. 7 as well as in FIG. 6 the size of the device 124 has been exaggerated rela tive to the other parts and in an actual installation there is adequate room for such procedure to be followed.

The modified form of device 224 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 similarly may be inverted for positioning so that the supply tube 226 goes off to the right of web 210 if so desired. Also, by varying the angle at which the slot 232 is cut, the device 224 may be tilted to positions more nearly vertical than the position shown in FIG. 1 1.

In all of the foregoing detailed description the web press has been assumed to be operating on a single web. However, as is well known web presses may be provided with two or more press roll stands so as to simultaneously print on two or more webs. For example a web press with two roll stands may be set up to print recurring 16 page patterns on two webs which are then brought together in registry and run simultaneously through the folder 122 to form a 32 page signature, pasted or unpasted or a 32 page pasted booklet. The conventional prior-art paste applying needles discussed above may be used where pasting is required. Similarly a 16 page pattern may be printed on one web and an eight page pattern may be printed on the other web and the resulting 24 page signature or booklet may be pasted with such conventional needles. However, if a 20 page or a 28 page pasted booklet is desired the device of the present invention must be used if such booklets are to be produced complete upon the web press-folder combination. With the present invention one web may be printed with recurring eight page patterns and the other web printed with recurring 12 page patterns to produce a 20 page booklet. The eight page web, of course, will be pasted with conventional needles and the 12 page web will be pasted by the use of the device of the present invention. For a 28 page pasted booklet one web with 16 page patterns will be pasted with conventional needles and the other web with 12 page patterns will be pasted by the use of the present invention. I

The fact that the adhesive applying devices 124 and 224 of the present invention may be altered to invert the device as described above so as to be mounted in more nearly vertical positions affords a great deal of flexibility in the use thereof, particularly when two or more webs are being printed on the same web pressfolder combination and it is necessary to use several conventional paste applying needles on some webs as well as to use the device of the present invention on a 12 page web.

What is claimed is:

1. An adhesive applying device engageable with a free longitudinal edge of a longitudinally moving web of paper for applying to both opposite surfaces of said web continuous lines of liquid adhesive material which extend along the marginal portion of said web parallel with and closely adjacent said free edge, said device having spaced parts straddling the free edge of the web with parallel web-engaging surfaces extending on opposite sides of said marginal portion of said web, said device being fixed at such an angular relationship with said free edge of said web that one surface of said marginal portion of said web is progressively moved over one of said web-engaging surfaces and the other surface of said marginal portion of said web is thereafter progressively moved over the other of said web-engaging surfaces to deflect successive increments of said marginal portion of said web into a predetermined flutter-free path as they move from said one of said web-engaging surfaces to said other of said web-engaging surfaces, each of said parts having an orifice formed therein and positioned so as to discharge liquid adhesive respectively upon the opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portions of said web as said increments move through said predetermined flutter-free path, and said device having passageways for connecting the orifice in each of said parts with a source of pressurized liquid adhesive.

2. in a combined web printing apparatus and web folding and severing apparatus for printing and forming separate printed booklets or signatures each having twelve pages, said folding and severing apparatus including a former plate of triangular configuration, the combination of means for guiding a web of paper having recurring twelve page patterns printed thereon by said web printing apparatus over said former plate to progressively fold one-third of the width of said web backwardly upon itself toward a position in which a longitudinal fold is formed along a first fold line extending longitudinally of said web and toward a position in which the longitudinal edge of said one-third of the width of said web is brought into registry with a potential fold line extending longitudinally of said web and located half-way between said first fold line and the longitudinal edge of the remaining two-thirds of the width of said web, an adhesive applying device engageable with said edge of said one-third of the width of said web as said edge moves as a free edge from said former plate towards said last named position for applying to both opposite surfaces of said web continuous lines of liquid adhesive material which extend along the marginal portions of said web parallel with and closely adjacent said free edge, said device having spaced parts straddling the free edge of the web with parallel web engaging surfaces extending on opposite sides of said marginal portion of said web, said device being fixed at such an angular relationship with said free edge of said web that one surface of said marginal portion of said web is progressively moved over one of said web-engaging surfaces and the other surface of said marginal portion of said web is thereafter progressively moved over the other of said web-engaging surfaces to deflect successive increments of said marginal portion of said web into a predetermined flutter-free path as they move from said one of said web-engaging surfaces to said other of said web-engaging surfaces, each of said parts having an orifice formed therein and positioned so as to discharge liquid adhesive respectively upon the opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portions of said web as said increments move through said predetermined flutter-free path, and said device having passageways for connecting the orifice in each of said parts with a source of pressurized liquid adhesive.

3. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 1 in which said parallel web-engaging surfaces are formed respectively on two separate body portions of said device, and adjustable means are provided for securing said body portions together in various positions to vary the spacing between said parallel web-engaging surfaces.

4. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 3 in which each of said web-engaging surfaces is curved generally in the form of a portion of a cylinder, the cylindrical axis of one of said web-engaging surfaces being parallel with the cylindrical axis of the other of said web-engaging surfaces.

5. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 1 in which said spaced parts of said device are integrally connected and comprise parallel walls of a slot so formed in said device as to straddle the free edge of said web, and in which said web-engaging surfaces comprise corners of said slot.

6. [n a method for manufacturing 12 page booklets or signatures on a web printing press and a folder adapted to form three successive folds, the steps of printing recurring patterns each defining 12 pages on a longitudinally moving continuous web of paper of predetermined width in said web press, progressively folding one-third of the width of said moving printed web backwardly upon itself towards a position in which a longitudinal fold is fonned along a first fold line and in which one longitudinal edge of said web will lie in substantial registry with a potential third fold line extending longitudinally of said web and lying half-way between said first fold line and the other longitudinal edge of said web, applying prior to the completion of said progressive folding step a continuous line of adhesive material to each of the opposite surfaces of the marginal portion of said moving web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said one edge while guiding said marginal portion through a predetermined flutter-free path, completing said progressive folding step to form said longitudinal fold along said first fold line and to bring the line of adhesive on one of the surfaces of said marginal portion of said web into engagement with another portion of that same surface of said web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said potential third fold line thus to adhesively secure said one edge of said web in substantial registry with said potential third fold line, folding said web along a second fold line extending transversely of the direction of movement of said web and severing 12 page portions of said moving web along lines parallel with and equally spaced from said second fold line thus to double said marginal portion with the other of said lines of adhesive thereon in contact with itself, and folding each of said severed portions of said web along said third fold line, thus to adhesively bind the 12 pages of said 12 page portion of said web along said third fold line and in registry with one another.

7. in a method for manufacturing [2 page booklets or signatures on a web printing press and a folder adapted to form three successive folds, the steps of printing recurring patterns each defining 12 pages on a longitudinally moving continuous web of paper of predetermined width in said web press, progressively folding one-third of the width of said moving printed web backwardly upon itself towards a position in which a longitudinal fold is formed along a first fold line and in which one longitudinal edge of said web will lie in substantial registry with a potential third fold line extending longitudinally of said web and lying half-way between said first fold line and the other longitudinal edge of said web, prior to the completion of said progressive folding step successively passing first one and then the other of the opposite surfaces of the marginal portion of said moving web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said one edge respectively over two opposed web-engaging surfaces to confine successive increments of said marginal portion to a predetermined flutter-free path as said increments move from one of said web-engaging surfaces to the other of said web-engaging surfaces, applying a continuous line of adhesive material to each of said opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portion while said increments move through said predetermined flutter-free path, completing said progressive folding step to form said longitudinal fold along said first fold line and to bring the line of adhesive on one of the surfaces of said marginal portion of said web into engagement with another portion of that same surface of said web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said potential third fold line thus to adhesively secure said one edge of said web in substantial registry with said potential third fold line, folding said web along a second fold line extending transversely of the direction of movement of said web and severing 12 page portions of said moving web along lines parallel with and equally spaced from said second fold line thus to double said marginal portion with the other of said lines of adhesive thereon in contact with itself, and folding each of said severed portions of said web along said third fold line, thus to adhesively bind the 12 pages of said 12 page portion of said web along said third fold line and in registry with one another.

it t ii III 

1. An adhesive applying device engageable with a free longitudinal edge of a longitudinally moving web of paper for applying to both opposite surfaces of said web continuous lines of liquid adhesive material which extend along the marginal portion of said web parallel with and closely adjacent said free edge, said device having spaced parts straddling the free edge of the web with parallel web-engaging surfaces extending on opposite sides of said marginal portion of said web, said device being fixed at such an angular relationship with said free edge of said web that one surface of said marginal portion of said web is progressively moved over one of said web-engaging surfaces and the other surface of said marginal portion of said web is thereafter progressively moved over the other of said webengaging surfaces to deflect successive increments of said marginal portion of said web into a predetermined flutter-free path as they move from said one of said web-engaging surfaces to said other of said web-engaging surfaces, each of said parts having an orifice formed therein and positioned so as to discharge liquid adhesive respectively upon the opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portions of said web as said increments move through said predetermined flutterfree path, and said device having passageways for connecting the orifice in each of said parts with a source of pressurized liquid adhesive.
 2. In a combined web printing apparatus and web folding and severing apparatus for printing and forming separate printed booklets or signatures each having twelve pages, said folding and severing apparatus including a former plate of triangular configuration, the combination of means for guiding a web of paper having recurring twelve page patterns printed thereon by said web printing apparatus over said former plate to progressively fold one-third of the width of said web backwardly upon itself toward a position in which a longitudinal fold is formed along a first fold line extending longitudinally of said web and toward a position in which the longitudinal edge of said one-third of the width of said web is brought into registry with a potential fold line extending longitudinally of said web and located half-way between said first fold line and the longitudinal edge of the remaining two-thirds of the width of said web, an adhesive applying device engageable with said edge of said one-third of the width of said web as said edge moves as a free edge from said former plate towards said last named position for applying to both opposite surfaces of said web continuous lines of liquid adhesive material which extend along the marginal portions of said web parallel with and closely adjacent said free edge, said device having spaced parts straddling the free edge of the web with parallel web engaging surfaces extending on opposite sides of said marginal portion of said web, said device being fixed at such an angular relationship with said free edge of said web that one surface of said marginal portion of said web is progressively moved over one of said web-engaging surfaces and the other surface of said marginal porTion of said web is thereafter progressively moved over the other of said web-engaging surfaces to deflect successive increments of said marginal portion of said web into a predetermined flutter-free path as they move from said one of said web-engaging surfaces to said other of said web-engaging surfaces, each of said parts having an orifice formed therein and positioned so as to discharge liquid adhesive respectively upon the opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portions of said web as said increments move through said predetermined flutter-free path, and said device having passageways for connecting the orifice in each of said parts with a source of pressurized liquid adhesive.
 3. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 1 in which said parallel web-engaging surfaces are formed respectively on two separate body portions of said device, and adjustable means are provided for securing said body portions together in various positions to vary the spacing between said parallel web-engaging surfaces.
 4. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 3 in which each of said web-engaging surfaces is curved generally in the form of a portion of a cylinder, the cylindrical axis of one of said web-engaging surfaces being parallel with the cylindrical axis of the other of said web-engaging surfaces.
 5. An adhesive applying device in accordance with claim 1 in which said spaced parts of said device are integrally connected and comprise parallel walls of a slot so formed in said device as to straddle the free edge of said web, and in which said web-engaging surfaces comprise corners of said slot.
 6. In a method for manufacturing 12 page booklets or signatures on a web printing press and a folder adapted to form three successive folds, the steps of printing recurring patterns each defining 12 pages on a longitudinally moving continuous web of paper of predetermined width in said web press, progressively folding one-third of the width of said moving printed web backwardly upon itself towards a position in which a longitudinal fold is formed along a first fold line and in which one longitudinal edge of said web will lie in substantial registry with a potential third fold line extending longitudinally of said web and lying half-way between said first fold line and the other longitudinal edge of said web, applying prior to the completion of said progressive folding step a continuous line of adhesive material to each of the opposite surfaces of the marginal portion of said moving web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said one edge while guiding said marginal portion through a predetermined flutter-free path, completing said progressive folding step to form said longitudinal fold along said first fold line and to bring the line of adhesive on one of the surfaces of said marginal portion of said web into engagement with another portion of that same surface of said web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said potential third fold line thus to adhesively secure said one edge of said web in substantial registry with said potential third fold line, folding said web along a second fold line extending transversely of the direction of movement of said web and severing 12 page portions of said moving web along lines parallel with and equally spaced from said second fold line thus to double said marginal portion with the other of said lines of adhesive thereon in contact with itself, and folding each of said severed portions of said web along said third fold line, thus to adhesively bind the 12 pages of said 12 page portion of said web along said third fold line and in registry with one another.
 7. In a method for manufacturing 12 page booklets or signatures on a web printing press and a folder adapted to form three successive folds, the steps of printing recurring patterns each defining 12 pages on a longitudinally moving continuous web of paper of predetermined width in said web pRess, progressively folding one-third of the width of said moving printed web backwardly upon itself towards a position in which a longitudinal fold is formed along a first fold line and in which one longitudinal edge of said web will lie in substantial registry with a potential third fold line extending longitudinally of said web and lying half-way between said first fold line and the other longitudinal edge of said web, prior to the completion of said progressive folding step successively passing first one and then the other of the opposite surfaces of the marginal portion of said moving web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said one edge respectively over two opposed web-engaging surfaces to confine successive increments of said marginal portion to a predetermined flutter-free path as said increments move from one of said web-engaging surfaces to the other of said web-engaging surfaces, applying a continuous line of adhesive material to each of said opposite surfaces of said successive increments of said marginal portion while said increments move through said predetermined flutter-free path, completing said progressive folding step to form said longitudinal fold along said first fold line and to bring the line of adhesive on one of the surfaces of said marginal portion of said web into engagement with another portion of that same surface of said web which lies parallel with and closely adjacent to said potential third fold line thus to adhesively secure said one edge of said web in substantial registry with said potential third fold line, folding said web along a second fold line extending transversely of the direction of movement of said web and severing 12 page portions of said moving web along lines parallel with and equally spaced from said second fold line thus to double said marginal portion with the other of said lines of adhesive thereon in contact with itself, and folding each of said severed portions of said web along said third fold line, thus to adhesively bind the 12 pages of said 12 page portion of said web along said third fold line and in registry with one another. 